Device for generating an impulsive force and nail gun thereof

Abstract

A device ( 10 ) for generating an impulsive force, comprising a main body ( 20 ) having an internal guide cavity ( 23 ) which develops along a main line (L) extending between a first end ( 21 ) and a second end ( 22 ) of the main body ( 20 ), and wherein the internal cavity ( 23 ) has at least one opening ( 21 a ) towards the outside ( 200 ) relative to the first end ( 21 ) of the main body ( 20 ), and wherein the first end ( 21 ) is associated with a nail ( 100 ) relative to the opening ( 21 a ), force generation means ( 30 ) configured for generating the impulsive force in an operational configuration of the device to ( 10 ), the generation means ( 30 ) being preferably arranged at the second end ( 22 ) of the main body ( 20 ), an abutment element ( 40 ) configured for transmitting the impulsive force resulting from the generation means ( 30 ) up to a portion of a nail ( 100 ) in an operational configuration of the device ( 10 ).

1 . A device ( 10 ) for generating an impulsive force characterized in that it comprises:
 a main body ( 20 ) having an internal guide cavity ( 23 ) which develops along a main line (L) extending between a first end ( 21 ) and a second end ( 22 ) of said main body ( 20 ), wherein said internal cavity ( 23 ) has at least one opening ( 21   a ) towards the outside ( 200 ) at said first end ( 21 ) of said main body ( 20 ) and wherein said first end ( 21 ) is suitable for being operationally associated with a nail ( 100 ) at said opening ( 21   a );   generation means ( 30 ) for generating said impulsive force, said generation means ( 30 ) being configured to generate said impulsive force in an operational use configuration of said device ( 10 ), said generation means ( 30 ) being preferably arranged at said second end ( 22 ) of said main body ( 20 );   an abutment element ( 40 ) configured to transmit said impulsive force produced by said generation means ( 30 ) to a portion of said nail ( 100 ) in an operational use configuration of said device ( 10 ).   
     
     
         2 . A device ( 10 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said internal cavity ( 23 ) has at least two straight portions ( 23   a ) and at least one curved portion ( 23   b ) comprised between said two straight portions ( 23   a ), one of said straight portions and preferably said curved portion ( 23   b ) being arranged at said first end ( 21 ) of said main body ( 20 ). 
     
     
         3 . A device ( 10 ) according to  claim 2 , wherein said curved portion ( 23   b ) of said internal cavity ( 23 ) is such as to define an angle of about 90 up to 150 degrees between said straight portions ( 23   a ), the angle being preferably comprised between a maximum value of about 120 degrees and a minimum value of about 90 degrees. 
     
     
         4 . A device ( 10 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said abutment element ( 40 ) is configured so as to slide along said internal cavity ( 23 ) according to a stroke pulse (C) directed from said second end ( 22 ) towards said first end ( 21 ) of said main body ( 20 ) for transmitting said impulsive force, said abutment element ( 40 ) being configured to slide according to an engagement stroke (B) from said first end ( 21 ) towards said second end ( 22 ) to assume a reset configuration of said device ( 10 ). 
     
     
         5 . A device ( 10 ) according to  claim 4 , wherein said abutment element ( 40 ) comprises a bilobed-shaped body, said bilobed-shaped body extending along a longitudinal axis (P) and comprising two enlarged ends ( 41 ) between which an intermediate narrowing portion ( 42 ) is arranged relative to a reduced portion of the body cross section, said longitudinal axis (P) being preferably an axis of symmetry. 
     
     
         6 . A device ( 10 ) according to  claim 5 , wherein said enlarged ends ( 41 ) of said bilobed-shaped body have a maximum transverse dimensions such as to allow sliding of said abutment element ( 40 ) along said internal cavity ( 23 ) without mechanical interference, preferably at least said enlarged ends ( 41 ) and said internal cavity ( 23 ) of said main body ( 20 ) having respectively circular-shaped cross sections of approximately same size. 
     
     
         7 . A device ( 10 ) according to  claim 6 , wherein said bilobed-shaped body exhibits points of contact (T) arranged in contact with a surface of said internal cavity ( 23 ), said points of contact (T) being included in two surface portions ( 41   a ), each associated with an enlarged end ( 41 ), and wherein the surface portion ( 41   a ) of each enlarged end ( 41 ) has a greater diameter than any other transverse dimensions of the respective enlarged ends ( 41 ), preferably of said bilobed-shaped body. 
     
     
         8 . A device ( 10 ) according to  claim 5 , wherein said bilobed-shaped body exhibits a circular section of said enlarged ends ( 41 ) with a diameter of approx. 2.5 mm up to 6.5 mm, preferably comprised between approx. 3 and 5 mm. 
     
     
         9 . A device ( 10 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said generation means ( 30 ) comprises engagement and release means configured to engage the abutment element ( 40 ) and drag it to a release position in which, under the action for example of elastic means, it releases an impulsive force for removing the nail ( 100 ), said engagement and release means, comprising for example a first stem ( 31 ) and a second stem ( 32 ) suitable for sliding along the internal cavity ( 23 ) of the main body ( 20 ). 
     
     
         10 . A device ( 10 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said generation means ( 30 ) comprises engagement and release means, comprising a first stem ( 31 ) having a pliers-shaped end ( 31   a ) suitable for reversibly receiving and retaining a respective rounded end ( 32   a ) of a second stem ( 32 ) operationally associated with said first stem ( 31 ) in a configuration of engagement between said first stem ( 31 ) and said second stem ( 32 ), said second stem ( 32 ) and first stem ( 31 ) being slidable along said internal cavity ( 23 ) of said main body ( 20 ) and relatively movable and/or solidly constraint with one another according to the gripping and/or release condition of the pliers-shaped end ( 31   a ). 
     
     
         11 . A device ( 10 ) according to  claim 9 , wherein said second stem ( 32 ) is flexibly connected to said abutment element ( 40 ) for example respectively at an attachment end ( 32   b ) of said second stem ( 32 ). 
     
     
         12 . A device ( 10 ) according to  claim 10 , wherein said internal cavity ( 23 ) has a guide portion ( 24 ) configured to promote/loosen the clamping of said pliers-shaped end ( 31   a ), preferably said guide portion ( 24 ) having a first portion ( 24   a ) with an internal diameter approximately equal to an outer diameter (“d”) of said first stem ( 31 ) at said pliers-shaped end ( 31   a ) when closed, and a second portion ( 24   b ) having a greater diameter than the outer diameter (“d”). 
     
     
         13 . A device ( 10 ) according to  claim 12 , wherein said generation means ( 30 ) comprises a first elastic element ( 50 ) configured to generate a pushing force on said first stem ( 31 ) so that it carries out a stroke of engagement (A) through said guide portion ( 24 ) towards said second stem ( 32 ), thereby allowing engagement between said pliers-shaped end ( 31   a ) and said rounded end ( 32   a ) in an operational use configuration of said device ( 10 ), said stroke of engagement being preferably directed from said second end ( 22 ) to said first end ( 21 ) of said main body ( 20 ). 
     
     
         14 . A device ( 10 ) according to  claim 13 , wherein said generation means ( 30 ) comprises a drive system ( 70 ) associated with said first stem ( 31 ) and configured to exert an opposing force exceeding said pushing force of said first elastic element ( 50 ) such that said first stem ( 31 ) and said second stem ( 32 ), in a condition of mutual engagement, perform a release stroke (B) via said guide portion ( 24 ) in an operational use configuration of said device ( 10 ), said release stroke (B) being opposite the direction of said stroke of engagement (A). 
     
     
         15 . A device ( 10 ) according to  claim 14 , wherein said second portion ( 24   b ) of said guide portion ( 24 ) of said internal cavity ( 23 ) is configured in such a way as to allow the loosening of the clamping of said pliers-shaped end ( 31   a ) on said rounded end ( 32   a ) of said second stem ( 32 ) hereby enabling extraction of said rounded end ( 32   a ) from said pliers-shaped portion ( 31   a ) in an operational release condition of said engagement and release means. 
     
     
         16 . A device ( 10 ) according to  claim 10 , wherein said generation means ( 30 ) comprises a second elastic element ( 60 ) configured to exert an impulsive force on said abutment element ( 40 ) such as to push it towards said first end ( 21 ) during a stroke pulse (C) of said means of engagement and release. 
     
     
         17 . A device ( 10 ) according to  claim 13 , wherein said pushing force of said first elastic element ( 50 ) is adjustable by means of an adjustment element ( 80 ) preferably arranged at said second end ( 22 ) of said main body ( 20 ). 
     
     
         18 . A nail gun ( 300 ) for of bone implant applications comprising a device for generating an impulsive force ( 10 ) according to  claim 1  and a head for holding a nail ( 400 ), preferably said head for holding a nail ( 400 ) being fixed to the first end ( 21 ) of the main body ( 20 ) of said force generating device ( 10 ). 
     
     
         19 . A nail gun ( 300 ) according to  claim 18 , wherein said head for holding a nail ( 400 ) includes a nail ( 100 ) having a head portion ( 110 ) directed towards said abutment element ( 40 ) of said device ( 10 ) in an operational use configuration of said nail gun ( 300 ).